partition new hd with old rig?

[djohn3853]

OK, i've ordered the WD 640gig Black (oem) for my first new build in 5 years.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=27&threadid=2281953

I understand that I should probably partition it for the os anyway and this should be
done before installing os. (i'm still debating whether to go with xp and wait for Win7
to come out, or go with Vista).

I'm ordering my components piecemeal to spread the cost out. So far I have the psu and vid card.

My hd arrives next week.
So, I'm wondering if I can pop the new hd in my current rig and partition it ahead of time.

I think my current mobo (Asus A7N8X Deluxe) supports sata. Not sure if i have a cable though.

Will my oem hd come with a cable?

Is this a good idea or dumb one.

Also, I know ziltch about partitioning.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: djohn3853
OK, i've ordered the WD 640gig Black (oem) for my first new build in 5 years.

I understand that I should probably partition it for the os anyway and this should be
done before installing os. (i'm still debating whether to go with xp and wait for Win7
to come out, or go with Vista).

My hd arrives next week.
So, I'm wondering if I can pop the new hd in my current rig and partition it ahead of time.

I think my current mobo (Asus A7N8X Deluxe) supports sata. Not sure if i have a cable though.

Will my oem hd come with a cable?

Is this a good idea or dumb one.

Also, I know ziltch about partitioning.

* OEM HDs from a vendor don't come with cables, mounting screws or software.
* Partitioning before building is fine, but you can also partition the drive easy enough when you build.
EaseUS (free Home Edition) (for 32-bit Windows), is a great partitioning tool.
Take your time with it, to be clear about what changes you want to make to the partition scheme.
* Don't go crazy with creating partitions for every little thing. Stick to the basics and you'll be happy.
C: OS & Apps. (the first 20-30% of the drive space is the fastest in general)
D: Storage

BTW, Don't be shocked...
Your 640GB drive won't format out to 640GB. It will likely format out to a bit under 600GB.

 

[djohn3853]

Thanks Blain for your response.

When am I running EaseUS? Before I've loaded os? If so, not sure how to do it.

I plan to partition the bare min. Pretty much as you've described.

Thanks for the tip about not being 640G. I probably would have been shocked.

 

[Blain]

You run EaseUS in a Windows 32-bit OS.

* Load EaseUS Home Edition in your current XP system
* Install your 640GB HD when it arrives
* Make sure you're partitioning the correct drive
* Partition up your 640GB HD the way you want it
I would set the partitions like this...
Primary C: OS & Apps @ 80-120GB
Logical D: Storage @ space left on HD

 

[djohn3853]

OK, so I hadn't understood that I could do it on my curent rig. So my question wasn't so dumb.

Now, remembering how much I said I know about partitioning. Obviously I already have a C drive on my current rig. That won't matter because this is a completely different drive? The fact that I install the new hd (which will be the 3d hd) won't my system assign it a drive letter, like F:\ or H:\ ? Already have A, C, D, E, G.

 

[Blain]

From my experience, I wouldn't worry about what drive letter the partitions on the new drives are labeled.
When you move the HD to it's home PC, Windows will default the OS drive to C:
I normally name the partitions before the drive is installed in it's home.

C: Windows
D: Storage (sometimes I name the storage after the brand of HD it's on... "WD Storage", etc.)

Here's what I would do if I were you...
C: Windows
D: Black Storage

Then I'd download all the drivers for the new hardware and utilities I'd be using onto the "Black Storage" partition.
I always use...
Avira AV (free)
Revo Uninstaller (free)
Foxit Reader (free)
Auslogic Defragger (free)
Glary Utilities (free)
SuperAntiSpyware (free)
7-Zip (free)
CD Burner XP (free)
Firefox (free)
OpenOffice Suite (free)
Sandboxie (free)
VLC Media Player (free)

You can also gather all the current updates for 2000, XP, Vista and Office with Offline-Update.
It makes updating a fresh install painless and fast.
Another little app you might look at is Update Checker.

 

[djohn3853]

OK, I received the new hd. Responses here and on other boards said what I planned was perfectly ok
(but probably unnecessary). Many said it was just as easy to partition on build up.
But hey, I never do things the easy way, its just my nature.

Anyway, I downloaded Easeus to do the partitioning. I found cables with
the extra material that came with mobo's on previous builds. This is my first foray with
sata. I was under the impression that the only cable you had to plug in was the sata.
Silly me, that seemed to easy. I've mounted the new hd in old rig and plugged in sata
cable. Nothing happened. I'm guessing that there are special sata power connectors
on my psu. Before I go to the trouble of pulling my rig apart again
(royal pain in the butt) can someone confirm that I need to plug a power cable also into
the new hd.